Luckily for them, help is at hand from the charity Garden Organic, who this year launched the One Pot Pledge, which aims to help gardening newcomers to grow an edible crop by using simple steps and clear advice to encourage and enthuse them.

Despite the surge in interest in ‘grow your own’ many newcomers, although keen to have a go, still don’t know where to start when it comes to food growing. Many are put off because they think they don’t have space to garden, or because they don’t have the time or knowledge. By encouraging people to start small with just one pot, the One Pot Pledge campaign aims to combat this, promising to make growing easy and successful.

The campaign hopes to encourage 30,000 people to make the One Pot Pledge and sow, grow and harvest their own food for the very first time. So far they are nearly halfway to meeting this target.

If you want to give it a grow, visit the One Plot Pledge website for more information.

I ought to point out, before you read any further, that this has absolutely nothing to do with gardens of any sort. If gardens are what you’re after, I’d bail out now if I were you.

Because this is all about is My Wedding Day.

So read on, dear reader, as your screen goes all wobbly and fades to reveal a glorious summer’s day in less than glorious Slough…

Sweeping magestically over the scalding tarmac of the church car park, past my husband to be’s Austin Allegro, I arrived, fashionably late. I was joined by two bridesmaids: my sister and my sister-in-law, their perms and home-made dresses gleaming brightly in the August sunshine. Inside waited the groom, in a cheap suit and narrow tie, alongside the best man, whose perm was soon to put the bridesmaids’ to shame.

The priest took the opportunity presented by the combination of a full house and 90º temperatures to wheel out his sermon on Death and Destruction. Realising, perhaps, that 45 minutes on the poor residents of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboim might not grip a modern, family audience, he skillfully weaved in a humorous subplot involving a chap who’d been run over and killed by a bus outside the church the week before.

It was not all bad. My Dad pulled out all the stops and provided a beautiful Rolls Royce to escort me to the church. He was clearly delighted to discover the chauffeur was a clay pigeon shooting enthusiast who just happened to have his equipment in the boot. How we laughed when Dad insisted the wedding photographer took a picture of me and Keith with my Dad, beaming at the irony of it all, brandishing a shotgun.

There are too many tales to tell – the best man’s speech which involved the now infamous Potato Joke; my husband’s eventful morning during which he crashed the car and locked himself out of his house; the drive from the church to the reception where our chauffeur mistakenly lead us and our convoy of guests down the westbound sliproad of the M4. And I especially won’t mention the venue for the wedding night, except to say that Keith knows he owes me a second honeymoon for that one!

But it was a happy, innocent day! It was before the advent of Wedding Fayres, Quirky Venues and Online Gift Lists. I doubt the whole day cost more than £3,000, and that fed 125 people plus another 50 in the evening. The rings were from Ratners, the wine Le Piat d’Or. My uncle filmed the wedding video, I made the dresses, our friend played the organ and my husband designed the stationery. All our families were there and we had a great time. And who’d have thought that 20 years later we’d still be going strong. Certainly not one unnamed relative who gave us “2 years, tops”. Cow!

So given that our wedding day was beset by so many “issues” of one kind or another, maybe you’re thinking we’ve planned some kind of special anniversary event, carefully designed to be the perfect celebration of 20 happy years.

Not exactly. Keith’s off work recovering from a painful operation, and I’m returning for the third time to fix a client’s recalcitrant pond which won’t stop leaking. Happy Anniversary Darling! Maybe we’ll do something for our 25th…

…summer holiday!

Yes, we’ve dug out the Travel Scrabble and packed the wellies, for tomorrow we board our charabanc to the seaside.

While we’re sampling such local delicacies as winkles, rude postcards and donkey rides, we will be unable to tend to the needs of you, our Reader. But don’t worry yourself too much, because we will be back, refreshed and skint, on 3rd August.

If you fancy a laugh while we’re gone, you could have a listen to the terrible answer phone message my dear husband left on the business line.

Until then… here’s a list of the top 20 stupid complaints made by British holiday makers.

Lush Landscape and Garden Design does not necessarily endorse any of the views expressed by guest bloggers, nor their company, products or services.

Why choose hardwood decking?

Garden hardwood decking is perfect for adding class to your garden by transforming your outdoor sanctuary into a lovely place to eat, drink and unwind. Decking is also a great way to make practical use of slopes in the garden by creating different levels and steps while not giving up on that natural look. Decking could very easily be part of your garden design by covering up unwanted surfaces, making it a very practical choice for dealing with garden imperfections.

Which wood species are suitable for decking and what to look out for:

Ipe Decking – Ipe (pronounced e-pay) originates from South America and is a very popular choice for decking on a budget without compromising on the look. Considered be the one of the hardest woods in the world (strength is three times harder than oak) it is recommended for all types of gardens and extremely popular for decks. Dark brownish, olive to dark olive in appearance, Ipe is popular as a decking material due to its insect resistance, durability and natural fire resistance.

Strong points: Ipe wood is extremely strong, making it a popular choice for areas which receive heavy foot traffic.

Teak Decking – Teak originates from Indonesia and is golden in color with dark markings and a straight grain. Teak wood contains natural oils so there is no need for preservatives and sealants. It is especially recommended for gardens and outdoor pools. Over time it will take on a natural silver-gray patina which truly adds class to any garden project and will lend an startling exotic look.

Strong points: Teak wood contains natural oils and therefore requires no additional chemical treatment.

Iroko Decking – Iroko, also know as African Teak, originates from Africa and is an exotic stylish hardwood. Iroko is extremely durable and rich in color and appearance. Although initially yellow in colour, it naturally weathers to a beautiful, chocolate brown colour which will give your garden a special exotic Zen-like feel. Recommended for all types of gardens and outdoor uses, it is also used in the boat building industry, which vouches for its quality and durability.

Strong points: Iroko is very affordable which makes the wood suitable for garden design on a tighter budget.

Cumaru Decking – Also known as Brazilian Teak, Cumaru is native to South America and starts life as a deep red/yellow wood before developing a classic silver-gray patina. Cumaru Decking is an exceptionally strong material and it boasts a fire rating of Class A (the same as concrete or steel) which, together with its anti-decay and anti-insect damage characteristics, makes it ideal for decking.

Strong points: Cumaru wood has anti-decay properties ensuring superb longevity.

Environmental Concerns
Buying tropical hardwood decking needs to be done responsibly. Look for sellers which source their wood from sustainable forests, thereby preventing the destruction of forest habitat. Deck boards which are sourced via unsustainable logging are responsible for the loss of important tree species. The species which are mentioned in this article do not appear in the Red List of threatened species, which is maintained by The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™, and are all available from sustainable forests.

Hardwood decking is the perfect choice for longevity, beauty, and overall performance, and is ideal for linking interior design schemes with your garden design.

A guide by Michelle Strassburg of Wood and Beyond, sellers of hardwood decking and wood flooring since 2005.

Our brief for this steeply sloping garden was to tame the 1.8m drop in order to create a family garden which allowed for seating, lawn and plenty of planting space.

The finished garden showing multiple level changes. Shame about the weather!

The 'before' shot, showing the 1.8m climb to the rear of the garden.

From the start we worked very closely with the clients, and after agreeing the layout plans we produced 3d drawings to assist the client understand the complex level changes required to create the scheme.

The initial plan.

The 3d visual.

The scheme involved a lot of soil removal – an estimated 60 tonnes. The retaining walls are built from inverted wooden sleepers, and the patios and steps are Indian sandstone. All fences were replaced, a new lawn laid, and a small water fountain was included using a reclaimed mill stone.

Here is a final before and after shot from an upstairs window, which hopefully gives a good idea of the transformation.

The 'after' garden.

The 'before' shot.

The brief for this garden was to remove a problem raised planting feature which was cutting the garden in half, and then to provide a contemporary garden which could be used for relaxing and entertaining. The client specified they would like a larger lawn area, more seating areas in which to enjoy the evening sunshine, and low maintenance but interesting planting.

Here are a few photos of the site on our initial visit on a snowy day in February, and from the first day’s construction on-site, in March.

The view from the house, with the large problem raised bed in full view.

After discussion with the client, we added vegetable beds, a summer house and a rear gate to the brief, and it was also requested we remove the hot tub which was built into the existing deck.

The scheme we proposed involved building a completely new deck and summer house at the rear of the garden, which was a sun-trap in the evening. The deck area was to be constructed around an existing tree. The scheme then separated the lawn into three smaller areas separated by large walk-through pergolas.

Raised vegetable beds were sited in a sunny position, screened from the house by large planting beds and another existing tree. A new, shaped lawn was proposed, edged with steel, and the new deck edge was also to be clad in sheet stainless steel. We also made suggestions for garden furniture and planters to compliment the design.

The initial plan was accepted, subject to minor changes.

Construction
The first job was site clearance. The raised bed was removed, existing plants to be retained were carefully dug up and re-potted, and all turf was removed. Once the site was cleared an electric cable was laid beneath the lawn area to service the summer house at the far end of the garden. Then the site was levelled and extra top-soil was added where required.

The raised bed was removed first.

A mini-digger helps!

The site is levelled and marked out with spray paint ready for the build to start.

Aided by favourable spring weather, our carpenter was able to start work on the two feature pergolas while we installed the steel lawn edging, and once the pergolas were complete we tackled the task of removing the hot tub and making good the resultant hole in the decking.

The pergola legs going in.

The steel lawn edge will create a clean edge to the new lawn.

Removing the hot tub was no mean feat!

The hole left behind was replaced with deck boards flush to the existing surface.

With the existing deck well advanced and pergolas completed, work turned to building the new deck and summerhouse at the far end of the garden. The deck was being constructed around an existing tree, so care had to be taken with the tree’s roots when building the support structure. The vegetable beds were also installed, and surrounded with a gravel path. The next item to be installed was the turf. For this project we used Lindum Turf, which we laid over the course of a day.

Work is well underway with the new deck and base for the summerhouse.

Turfing the new lawns.

At last we reached what is, for me, the fun part – the planting. The scheme was centred around a backbone of shrubs using contrasting leaf colours, eg Phormium tenax Purpurea and ‘Yellow Wave’, Cotinus coggygria, Philadelphus coronarius Aurea and existing Physocarpus ‘Diablo’. These were combined with herbaceous plants with strong, complimentary colours, such as the orange flowered Helenium ‘Moorheim Beauty’, deep purple Penstemon ‘Raven’, and the acid greens of Alchemilla mollis and Euphorbia amygdaloides var. Robbiae.

We had some beautiful April days in which to plant the garden.

Our clients couldn't wait, and planted up the vegetable beds themselves!

The finished garden
We popped back to take some finished shots of the garden about six weeks after completion.

The view from the existing deck, through the pergolas.

The view from upstairs, with the new deck and seating in the distance.

A view back towards the house.

The new deck, with summerhouse and exterior rattan furniture.

The raised vegetable beds looking well stocked already.

Phormium, Penstemon and Helenium contrast with the existing Hawthorn hedge.

The pergolas were planted with climbing Trachelospermum jasminoides.

The clients bought our design and tendered out the landscaping work.

The garden featured a traditional lawn surrounded by mixed planting

The walkway around the lawn included a pergola with trained planting

The pergola

We specified colourful, traditional cottage garden planting.

Rear garden plan

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The existing plot was an unexciting box of lawn and paving, and the clients were interested in replicating the contemporary feel of their home’s interior. Our proposed design was an example of using a bold design in a small space, with a combination of architectural white rendered walls and fences, with bespoke seating set around a specially designed fire pit/centre table. Planting would be a combination of bold, structural planting, softened with ornamental grasses. A stainless steel water feature and lawn area completed the scheme. The clients were delighted with the design, and we proceeded to build the garden over 3-4 weeks.

The scheme featured a central area with custom made oak seating

The sculptural walls incorporated shallow planting areas within

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The view across the completed rear garden

The rear garden with interlocking circular zones

When we first visited the property the front and back gardens were both overgrown, and the clients had little time to maintain them. We suggested a scheme which would allow all family members to use the rear garden, with play areas for the children, a fine lawn and shaded planting areas, and a sunny patio and dining area. The entertaining area was surrounded with plants and climbers growing up a rope and post support, whilst allowing room for children’s toys and a fine lawn. We suggested a low maintenance sandstone paved front garden with a circular herbal knot garden in the centre, complete with miniature olive tree. The clients approved the designs and we built the gardens over a period of 4 weeks.

The herbal knot garden with interlinked box hedging

The garden “before” shots:

The existing rear garden, complete with 1970s concrete paving

The overgrown front garden

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Apologies for the lack of posts. This week has seen the start of a new garden build, which leaves little time for anything much in the evening, let alone writing the blog. So here is a brief round up of the odds and sods which have taken place.

The work bit
It’s not too late to ask us to redesign your garden for the summer. We’re booked up until the middle of June, and we have a couple of other jobs in the pipeline, but if you fancy an escape from the World Cup, why not ask us to have a look at what we can do to improve your garden.

Media bits
Channel 4 have launched a new series called The Landscape Man, which aims to be Grand Designs for the garden. Presenter Matthew Wilson, who is Head of Creative Garden Development at the Royal Horticultural Society and Associate Director of The Landscape Agency, guides viewers through six year-long garden projects. The first episode went out last week to mixed reviews, and I look forward to seeing how the rest of the series pans out.

Critics of the first episode have complained that the show gave a totally false picture of the costs involved in creating a large garden. The owners of the featured garden spent a total of £10,000, which they supplemented by using their own labour and thousands of pounds of plants from their own nursery. A realistic commercial figure to create the garden would have been between five and ten times that amount, and professional landscapers fear the programme will cause the public to think they can create huge gardens at minimal cost.

It’s an interesting debate, so I’m eager to watch this week’s episode, which unfortunately clashes with the last election debate, to see if the programme addresses these issues.

As an aside, my dear husband has proved himself this week to be quite the idiot by confusing Matthew Wilson (see above) with Matthew Appleby of Horticulture Week. Mr Appleby last week endeared himself to the garden blog fraternity by needlessly sticking the welly boot in on the Horticulture Week blog. Sadly his latest efforts, which read like a bad pastiche of a Nigel Dempster society column from the Daily Mail in the 1980s, can be found here.

Our own garden
I actually used a sun lounger last week! Not for putting the washing on, or using as an impromptu table, but actually for lounging on, in the sun! Unfortunately, it was while I was listening to my husband’s football team being torn a new one by Leicester City, so that rather spoiled the atmos.

The veg garden has been planted out. So far a solitary line of onions is all that adorns the surface, but the early potatoes are showing signs of life. Like a masochist, I’ve planted the same strain of carrots which failed three times last year. Life loves an optimist!

Last Sunday saw all the dandelions in our lawn come out at once. You might be wondering what a garden designer is doing with dandelions in her lawn, and the answer is… I’m too busy dealing with clients’ gardens to spend time weeding my own! Sunday afternoon was spent digging out dandelions with a special tool created exactly for the purpose – across between a fondue fork and a saw, designed to extricate long rooted weeds. No garden designer should be without one.

Oh, and the lawn mower broke two weeks ago. I haven’t got round to buying a new one yet. Maybe I’ll leave joining the National Garden Scheme until next year!